Locomotive stoker



Jan. 27, 1942. E. MARTIN LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Dec. 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L Y L i 4 1 1 .1. w a z 2 P E F 3% Z 6 m H N i I; a w/ l m L, M54 4 1 4 0 3 j 5 M 3 w 5 w T 1 5. M 1

A90 Q ad 0 o o o o 0 00.000 0 o o 0 @0000 OOOOOOOOO INVENTOR .HMS h H O e A1 m% W E.

Jan. 27, 1942. v E. MARTIN 2,271,018

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Dc. 22, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I z i W Z2 INVENTOR Eugene Marlin ORNEYS 16 Y 1 15 TT Jan. 27, 1942.

E. MARTIN LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Dec. 22, 1937 s $heets-Sheet s l IT 5 3 INVENTORI Eugene Marlm BY TORNEY5 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Eugene Martin, Erie, Pa., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1937, Serial No. 181,120

4 Claims.

This invention, which relates to locomotive stokers of the type which feed through an opening in the firebox backwall, has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved firedoor arrangement for use in connection with stokers whereby access to the interior of the firebox may be gained conveniently.

It is also an object to provide a novel mounting for the firedoor of this invention.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of new and improved means forthe power and manual operation of the firedoor.

On the drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken centrally through the rearward portion of a locomotive on the line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l as viewed from the locomotive cab;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

On the drawings, L indicates a locomotive provided with a boiler firebox Ill, the backwall H of which is provided with the customary firing opening l2 disposed some distance above the floor l3 of the cab I4. A stoker S is utilized for delivering fuel into the firebox l and for scattering the fuel in aerial paths over the firebed. The stoker S includes a fuel elevator I comprising a forwardly inclined conduit I6 in which a conveyor screw I7 is rotatably mounted. At its lower end, the conduit I6 is provided with a ball and socket arrangement l8 for universally connecting a conduit l9 leading forwardly from the tender (not shown). A bracket is secured to the backwall H and forms a support for the lower end of the fuel elevator l5.

The forwardly inclined conduit I5 is secured, by means of welding, to the lower tubular portion 2| of a housing member or casing 22 which embraces the firing opening [2. Above its tubular portion 2|, the casing 22 is approximately rectangular when considered in vertical transverse cross section, and includes the parallel upright side walls 23, 24 and the horizontal top wall 25. Th'e casing 22 is arranged so that the forward contiguous edges of the side walls 23, 24 and the top wall 25 terminate short of the backwall H. Side angle irons 26, 21 and a top angle iron 28 are utilized for rigidly securing the casing 22 to the backwall ll.

Within the firing opening 12 a fuel delivery plate 29 is disposed so that its rearward end is secured by a pin 30 to the lower forward wall 3| of the casing 22, while the forward end of the delivery plate 29 projects into the firebox ID. The plate 29 closely follows the contour of the lower part of the firing opening l2 so as to occupy minimum space. Below the forward end of the delivery plate 29 is a table 32 from which fuel as it falls downwardly from said plate 29, is projected over the firebed by jets of steam or other pressure fluid issuing from suitable apertures 33 of the head 34. A pipe 35 supplies pressure fluid to the interior of the head 34. Grating 36, spported upon the fire grate bar 31, maintains the table 32 and head 34 in operative position within the firebox ID.

The rear edge 38 of the casing top wall 25 and the rear edge 49 of the casing lower rear wall 40a terminate forward of the rear edges 4|, 42 of the casing side walls 23, 24. Between the side walls 23, 24a firedoor F is mounted and normally covers the aperture 43 defined by the casing walls 23, 24, 25 and 40a. The rear edge 38 of the casing top wall 25 terminates forward of rear edge 40 of the casing lower rear Wall 40a, and the firedoor F curves upwardly and forwardly from the lower rear edge 40 to the top forward edge 38. The lower rear wall is provided with lugs 8 which limit the downward portion of firedoor F. On its forward side, the firedoor F is provided with a baffle plate 9 whichis secured by bolts 44 to the main firedoor member 45, the baflle plate 9 serves to protect the member 45 from the intense heat within the firebox l0 and also forms with said firedoor member 45, along each lateral side thereof, a groove 46 (Fig. 3). Secured to the inner portion of each side wall 23, 24 is a T iron 47 with the stem thereof directed so as to fit a corresponding groove 45 along each side of the firedoor F. The T irons 41 curve forwardly and upwardly above the casing 22 and are connected atthe top by a transverse element 48 which is secured to the backwall II by brackets 49. It will be observed that the T irons 4! are so curved that the portion thereof above the casing 22 is approximately parallel to the backwall ll while the lower portion thereof sweeps rearwardly at a substantial angle from the backwall.

Operation of the firedoor F may be accomplished through power means P or manual means M, each of which means is selective in operation as will presently appear. Disposed above and forward of the top wall 25 is a horizontally. disposed shaft 50, the lateral portions of which are journaled in bearings 5|, 52 formed in side walls 23, 24, respectively of the casing 22. Immediately inward of the bearings 5|, 52, the shaft 50 has keyed thereto gears 53, 54 which mesh with a toothed rack 55, 56, respectively, formed along each lateral side of the main fired member 45.

The gear 54 and bearing 52are enclosed partially by a casing 51 formed at one side of a cylindrical member 58 of the power means P for operating the firedoor F. Shaft 56 passes into the cylindrical member 58 and carries a gear 59 which meshes with a toothed rack 66, the upper end of which is provided with a piston 6!. Pressure fluid is admitted to the upper side of the piston 6| by means of a pipe 62, under suitable manual control, for moving the rack 60 downwardly. This causes rotation of gear 59 and shaft 50, whereby gears 53, 55 cause upward movement of the firedoor F along the tracks formed by the curved T irons. Preferably, the rack 60 has secured to its lower end a weight 63 which is disposed within a guard casing 64. The weight 63, piston 6| and rack 60, together weigh slightly less than the firedoor F so that upward movement thereof is facilitated. At the same time, this arrangement also is useful in preventing the firedoor F from closing too rapidly when the flow of pressure fluid from pipe 62 is, interrupted.

On the end of the shaft 50 adjacent the bearing 5| is a gear 65 in mesh with an idler gear 86 which, in turn, is arranged to be engaged by a toothed segment 61. The latter is secured to a pin 68 which is carried by the casing side wall 23 and has secured thereto a handle $9. The gears 65, 66 and the segment 67 are disposed within a guard casing 70. During normal operation of the firedoor F by the power means P, the handle 69 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the toothed segment 6! is out of mesh with the idler gear 66. In this manner, power operation of the firedoor F will not cause movement of the handle 69. Whenever it is desired to open the firedoor F manually, the operator grasps the handle 69, takes up all lost motion between the segment 67 and idler gear 66, and then causes rotation of shaft 50 through the train of gears for raising the firedoor F. The handle 69 is moved to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 when the firedoor is raised to its fully open position. If desired, a spring H may be attached between the handle 69 and the side angle iron 26. This spring 1| maintains the handle 69 in the two positions shown in Fig. 4. When the handle 69 is in the downward position during manual operation of the firedoor F, the spring H functions to retain the firedoor F in an open position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that when the firedoor F is moved upwardly along the track formed by the T irons 41, the aperture 43 opposite the firing I opening I2 will be fully uncovered, permitting unrestricted access into the firebox It). It will also be understood, that since the side walls 23, 24 do not extend rearward of the backwall ii an excessive distance, manual firing of the firebox may be resorted to without difilculties which are usually attendant when the firedoor F is spaced a considerable distance from the backwall H. The arrangement described has the further advantage over prior construction in that the firedoor F moves in a path which is quite near to the backwall ll whereby valuable cab space is not occupied by movable mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a firebox having an upright wall with a firing opening therein and a stoker for feeding fuel to said opening comprising a casing embracing said opening, the rear portion of said casing being provided with an aperture opposite said firing opening, a firedoor normally closing said opening, means providing an arcuate track engageable by said firedoor, said arcuate track extending from a point adjacent the lower portion of said aperture to a point above said firing opening, the upper portion of said arcuate track being approximately parallel to said backwall, a gear rack on said firedoor, a gear meshed with said rack, power means operatively connected with said gear for rotating the same, manual means arranged to rotate said gear, means normally maintaining said manual means inoperative to rotate said gear, said means also arranged to retain said manual means in a position maintaining said firedoor in open position.

2. In a firebox having an upright wall with a firing opening therein and a stoker for feeding fuel to said opening comprising a casing embracing said opening, the rear portion of said casing being provided with an aperture opposite said firing opening, a firedoor normally closing said opening, means providing an arcuate track engageable by said firedoor, said arcuate track extending from a point adjacent the lower portion of said aperture to a point above said firing opening, the upper portion of said arcuate track being approximately parallel to said backwall, a

gear rack on said firedoor, a gear meshed with said rack, power means operatively connected with said gear for rotating the same, manual means arranged to rotate said gear, a spring normally maintaining said manual means inoperative to rotate said gear, said spring also arranged to retain said manual means in a position maintaining said firedoor in an open posiion.

3. In a firebox having an upright wall with a firing opening therein and a stoker for feeding fuel to said opening comprising a casing embracing said opening, the rear portion of said casing being provided with an aperture opposite said firing opening, a firedoor normally closing said opening, means providing a track engageable by said firedoor, said track extending from a point adjacent the lower portion of said aperture to a point above said firing opening, a gear rack on said firedoor, a gear meshed with said rack, power means operatively connected with said gear for rotating the same, manual means arranged to rotate said gear, means normally maintaining said manual means inoperative to rotate said gear, said means also arranged to retain said manual means in a position maintaining said firedoor in open position.

4. In a firebox having an upright wall with a firing opening therein and a stoker for feeding fuel tosaid opening comprising a casing embracing said opening, the rear portion of said casing being provided with an aperture opposite said firing opening, a firedoor normally closing said opening, means providing a track engageable by said firedoor, said track extending from a point adjacent the lower portion of said aperture to a point above said firing opening, a gear rack on said firedoor, a gear meshed with said rack, power means operatively connected with said gear for rotating the same, manual means arranged to rotate said gear, a spring normally maintaining said manual means inoperative to rotate said gear, said spring also arranged to retain said manual means in a position maintaining said firedoor in an open position.

EUGENE MARTIN. 

